Birthing 101

Last Friday I got to job shadow a nurse in the obstetrics ward, and it was unbelievable! I actually got to help in the birth of a beautiful baby boy! I think the nurse thought I was a little further along in the nursing program than I was. I was following her around, just observing, when she told me to grab the mother’s leg and start her pushing. I was so scared but excited at the same time. I also knew that I could not let the family or the mother know that I had no idea what I was doing.

In my sociology class today, we had a lecture on women’s rights and inequality worldwide. I have always been a big supporter of women’s rights and issues, so a lot of the lecture was very interesting to me. Then my instructor got to the part where he said the reason that women are subordinate to men is the “religious crap people teach.” He then talked about how everyone makes up the story that Eve came from Adam’s rib, so that is why women are subordinate. It made me so angry! I wanted to stand up and shout at him that he had no idea what he was talking about. Eve was created so man would not be alone, and as a helpmate to Adam. Although the man is the final authority in the household, she is his equal—one flesh. Such a difference from my small, conservative little town.